Catheter placement unit with removable cannulated needle



v. P. czoRNY ETAL 3,297,030

CATHETER PLACEMENT UNT WITH REMOVABLE CANNULTED NEEDLE Jan. 1o, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 13, 1964 N H @Qi/MW Jan. 10, 1967 V, p, CZORNY ETAL 3,297,030

CATHETER PLACEMENT UNIT WITH REMOVABLE CANNULATED NEEDLE Filed March 13, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR United States Patent O 3,297,030 CATHEIER PLACEMENT UNIT Willi RE- MOVAIBLE CANNULATED NEEDLE Vasil P. Czorny, Wallace Il. lling, Karl A. Pannier, lr.,

and .lames la. Sorenson, Salt Lalre City, lUtah, assignors to Sorenson Research Corp., Salt Lake City, Utah, a

corporation of Utah Filed Mar., t3, i964, Ser. No. 351,69l

lll Claims. (Cl. t28-214.2)

This invention relates to improvements in a catheter placement unit with removable cannulated needle, and :more particularly to a placement unit hi-ghly desirable `for positionin-g a catheter in a vein cr the like for parenteral infusions, although the invention may have other uses and purposes as will be a-pparent to one skilled in the art.

In the past, and particularly where intravenous catheters have been used, diiculty was always had with proper disposition of the cannulated needle after placement of the catheter and Withdrawal of the needle through which the catheter was placed. If the catheter was arranged for connection to an `infusion syste-m, the needle could not be withdrawn over the cat-heter and must therefore remain in a position adjacent the body of the patient and irksome and tedious operations were performed in order to cover the point of the `needle in some manner so as to prevent it injuring the patient or cutting the catheter when the patient moved. Several attempts have heretofore been made to utilize a cannulated needle having a slot therealong by virtue o\f which the needle could be completely removed from the catheter after placement of the catheter. However, .such devices embodied no means for advancing the catheter with the exception of the needle itself, and in some instances an objectionally short length of catheter resulted, while in other instances the difficult operation of advancing a catheter without any aid resulted in the danger of puncturing the wall of the vein. In no instances of which we are aware was any placement means developed permitting the complete removal of the needle, providing additional means for advancing the catheter, and permitting the catheter to be advanced while infusion takes place. Establishing proper connection be-tween the catheter and an infusion system after placement of the catheter is also somewhat dangerous to the patient because of possible injury to the vein, maladjustment of the catheter, and the surgeon is also irked by virtue of the mess resulting `from Iblood discharge through the catheter.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object to the instant invention to provide a catheter placement unit so constructed that the cannulated needle is completely `freed from the catheter as the needle is withdrawn `from the body of a patient contemporaneously with completion of catheter advancement.

Another important object of the instant invention is the provision of a catheter placement unit, embodying a cannulated needle, hub means for the needle, sheathing means for the catheter, and a catheter advancer or actuator which is directly connecti'ble to an infusion system, the unit being so constructed that substantially a single smooth movement is all that is required to properly position the catheter while the entire `unit including the needle itself, with the ex-ception of the actuator, falls away `from the catheter and may `be immediately discarded.

It is also an important feature of this invention to provide a catheter placement unit including a cannulated needle, hub means yfor the needle, sheathin-g means for the catheter, an-d advancing means for the catheter, `the various parts of the unit being connected by a friction fit or a resilient snap-on engagement, whereby during advancement yof the catheter the parts of the unit separate from each other and upon complete advancement of the catheter even the needle falls away from the catheter and all of the unit except the catheter advancing means which connect to the infusion system, may immediately be gathered up and discarded.

Also a desideratum of this invention is the provision of catheter placement unit which, after use, may be reassembled, sterilized, and reused should such be desired or runder occasion prove essential.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of a catheter placement unit embodying a slotted cannulated needle, a catheter advancer or actuator, catheter sheathing means of separable parts, and hub means for the nee-dle comprising separable parts, the Iunit being so assembled that upon advancement of the catheter the sheathing means separate, the hub means separate, and the catheter is Iforced free of the needle through the slot therein by the actuator when placement of the catheter is complete and the needle is withdrawn from the body of a patient.

While .some olf the more Asalient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, other will become apparent from the .following disclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE l `is a fragmentary side elevational view of a catheter placement unit embodying principles of the instant invention, showing the same in position for use and connected to an infusion system;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the structure of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary central vertical sectional view, with parts shown in elevation, taken substantially as indicated 'by the line III-III of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a .fragmentary side elevational view showing the catheter in a partially advanced position;

FIGURE 5 is la view similar to FIGURE 4 showing the catheter further advanced and indicating still further advancement lin dotted lines;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating the appearance of the catheter and actuator upon complete advancement and withdrawal of the needle;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary exaggerated vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated lby the line VII-VII of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 8 is an exaggerated vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated Iby the line VIIIVIII of FIGURE 2.

As shown in the drawings:

The illustrated embodiment of the instant invention is shown in somewhat exaggerated size for purposes of clarity. All parts of the unit, with the exception of the metallic cannulated needle, may suitably be made from molded or extruded plastic material.

The illustrated embodiment of the instant invention comprises a base member 1 provided on its upper side with a pair of integral spaced beads 2 and 3 extending longitudinally, thereof. As seen more clearly in FIG- URES 7 and 8, the beads 2 and 3 are generally circular in cross section lbut are connected with the base 1 by a narrow neck as indicated at 4, thus providing external longitudinal grooves 5 and 6 on the outer sides of the beads, and an internal channel 7 which functions as part of the housing for a catheter. At the outer end thereof, the base member 1 is provided with an upstanding stop member 8 secured firmly in the channel 7. Secured to the underface of the -base 1 at the inner end thereof, that is the end nearest the patient when the device is put to use, is a U-shaped bracket 9, wider than the base so that the upstanding legs of the bracket are spaced from the respective beads 2 and 3 as seen best in FIGURE 8. This bracket 9 functions as a portion of the hub for a cannulated needle 10 lhaving its outer end anchored firmly to the base inside the channel 7. As seen best in FIG- URES 2 and 8, the needle is provided with -a longitudinal slot 11 therein and extending the full length of the upper side of the needle.

Disposed in the channel 7 of the base is a thin, preferably transparent, plastic catheter 12 one end of which terminates inside the needle 10 as seen best in FIGURE 2. As shown in FIGURE 8 the needle and catheter are of such relative sizes that the needle preferably embraces the catheter approximately 270 degrees therearound so that while the needle retains the catheter therein during placement of the catheter, the fiexibleness and inherent resiliency of the catheter permits it to be forced out of the needle through the slot 11 at the end of the placement operation.

The other or outer end of the catheter is rmly secured within an upwardly and outwardly sloping nipple 13 integral with a catheter actuator or advancer 14. Interiorly the nipple 13 is shaped in the manner of a Luer fitting for telescopic connection with a tube 1S leading from any suitable infusion apparatus. The actuator 14, as best seen in FIGURE 7, is of inverted channel shape and the opposed sides 16--16 thereof are engaged in the aforesaid external .grooves 5 and 6 in the base member 1. The actuator is suiciently resilient to permit it being snapped into place on the base member. When so positioned, the actuator can lbe slid along the base member, the aforesaid stop member 8 preventing the actuator from accidentally being pulled off the `base member. The inner end of the actuator is formed on the slant as indicated at 17, so that this end of the actuator may function in the manner of a plow to remove other parts of the -unit during placement of the catheter.

To complete the sheathing of the catheter an elongated cover r13 is utilized which is also in the shape of an inverted channel with the side walls 19-19 thereof engaged in the aforesaid external grooves 5 and 6 of the base member inwardly of the actuator. The side walls of the cover 18 are slotted as indicated at 20 a little better than half of their height to provide an articulated cover which is bendable, and this cover may then be snapped into position on the base member or pried loose therefrom segment by segment to render its attachment or release easy to accomplish with little force. As seen in FIGURE 4, the outer end of the cover is cut slantwise as indicated at 21 complementary to the slanted end 17 of the actuator, and as shown in FIGURES l and 2, the slanting end of the cover overlies the slanting end 17 of the actuator when the unit is assembled ready for use.

At the inner end of the base member an inverted channel shaped cap 22 is disposed with its side walls 23--23 frictionally seated between the side walls of the aforesaid ybracket 9 and the adjacent beads 2 and 3 on the base member. Each side wall 23 is provided internally thereof with a relatively narrow vertical rib 24 which engages in a suitable slot in the adjacent bead 2 or 3 on the base member to prevent the cap 22 accidently being slid out of position. At the inner end thereof the cap 22 is provided with an inverted U-shaped lhub 25 which seats over the needle and the part of the catheter therein to give added strength and lessen outward iow of blood along the needle outside the catheter.

In assembling the unit, the catheter already attached to the actuator may be inserted in the needle and pressed into the channel 7 of the base member, and the actuator snapped in position on the base member. Thereafter the articulated cover 18 is placed into position by snapping the same over the base member and with the slanting end of t-he cover overlying the slanted end of the actuator. Then the cap 22 is merely pressed into position. It will be noted that the cap 22 overlies the inner end of the needle and also overlies the inner end of the articulated cover 18, as seen clearly in FIGURE 3, The unit may then be sterilized in any suitable manner, and when packaged the needle is, of course, covered with a needle guard, and la cap is placed on the outer end of the nipple 13.

When the device is ready for use it is removed from a sterile envelope or the equivalent, the cap removed 4from the nipple, and the guard removed from the needle. The nipple 13 may then be immediately connected with the infusion tube 15, and the unit iiushed out to remove any air that may be contained and also to remove any sterilization sediment. Infusion may be stopped during the insertion of th-e needle in a patients vein, but immediately upon insertion of the needle infusion is again started to assist in the placement of the catheter without injury to the walls of the vein. The needle hub assembly, including the bracket 9 and the cap 22 is then grasped by the surgeon and held firmly, the holding contact preferably being on the walls of the bracket 9. Then, in one simple smooth motion the actuator is slid along the base member from a position seen in FIGURE l to just beyond the dotted line position of FIGURE 5. During this movement the inner end of the actuator plows up the cover 18 segment by segment as shown in FIGURE 4. As movement of the actuator continues, the inner end of the cover 18 prys off the cap 22 leaving the parts in the position seen in FIGURE 5. As the actuator is still further advanced indicated by dotted lines in FIGURE 5 the catheter is forced out through the slot in the needle and all that remains of the unit is the part shown in FIGURE 6 namely the catheter already placed in the vein of the patient and the actuator 16. It is a very simple expedient to anchor the actuator 16 to the patients body with a strip of adhesive tape. The base and needle, the cover 18, and the cap 22 may then be disposed of if desired. However, should occasion demand, the parts may be reassembled in the manner above described for repeated use. Of course, at the end of the placement operation the catheter actuator may be held stationary and the base member moved outwardly relatively thereto to withdraw the needle from the body of the patient but even so it will be noted that substantially one continuous easy movement is all that is necessary to properly position the catheter, disrupt the catheter sheathing means comprising the base and the cover 18, and disrupt the needle hub assembly so that these parts all fall away. The unit is simple and positive in its action, and all of the catheter is free to be worked upon by the surgeon except for the little length in the actuator. The slotted needle does not have the amputating effect of a fully cylindrical needle, but merely opens the skin and pushes the iiesh aside for the catheter advancement.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a catheter placement unit,

a base member having a longitudinal groove therein,

a cannulated needle with the blunt end thereof firmly secured in said groove and the remainder projecting beyond the end of said base member,

said needle having a longitudinal slot therein in the upper portion thereof,

a catheter advancer including a passaged nipple thereon slidably mounted on said base member,

stop means at the end of said base member opposite said needle to prevent accidental separation of the base member and said advancer,

a catheter in said groove with one end extending into the projecting portion of said needle and the other end firmly anchored in the advancer nipple,

a cover frictionally associated with said base member to completely house said catheter and with one end overlying the adjacent end of said advancer, and

a needle hub member frictionally connected to said base member over the fixed end of said needle and overlying the adjacent end of said cover,

whereby as the advancer is moved along said base member to advance the catheter through said needle the cover is separated from the base member, `the hub member is freed by the cover, and as the needle is withdrawn the catheter passes through the needle slot, leaving only the advancer associated with t-he placed catheter.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said cover is articulated for removal segment by segment as the advancer moves along said base member, and

a U-shaped bracket wider than said base member and firmly secured thereto to rictionally receive between itself and said base member said hub member.

3. In a catheter place-ment unit,

catheter sheathing means comprising separable parts frictionally connected,

a cannulated needle having a longitudinal slot therein secured to a part'of said sheathing means and extending outside one end of the same,

needle hub means of separable parts frictionally connected and one of which overlies an end of a part of said sheathing means,

catheter advancer means having a passage therethrough and initially disposed at the other end of said sheathing means and slidable along one part of said sheathing means and having an end underlying the other part of said sheathing means, and

a catheter in said sheathing means with one end in said needle and the other end secured in the passage of said advancing means,

whereby when the catheter is advanced through said needle the parts of the sheathing and hub means are separated and upon withdrawal of said needle the catheter passes through the slot therein.

4, In a catheter placement unit,

catheter sheathing means comprising separable parts frictionally connected,

a cannulated needle having a longitudinal slot therein secured to a part of said sheathing means and extending outside one end of the same,

needle hub means of separable parts frictionally connected embracing said sheathing means at said end thereof,

catheter advancing means having a passage therethrough located at the other end and frictionally connected to and movable along said sheathing means to advance a catheter through said needle,

a catheter in said sheathing means with one end in said needle and the other end secured in the passage of said advancing means, and

certain of said parts being so associated that the parts of the hub means and sheathing means are separated by movement of said advancing means to place the catheter.

5. In a catheter placement unit,

a disruptible catheter sheathing means,

a cannulated needle secured in said sheathing means and extending beyond the same,

disruptible needle hub means,

catheter advancing means movable along said sheathing means and positioned to disrupt the same and said hub means as a catheter is advanced through said needle,

a catheter in said sheathing means wtih one end telescopically associated with said needle and the other end anchored in said advancing means, and

said needle being removable from said catheter after advancement of the same, leaving only said advancing means connected to the positioned catheter.

6. In a catheter placement unit,

disruptible catheter sheathing means,

a cannulated needle secured in said sheathing means and extending beyond the same,

disruptible needle hub means,

catheter advancing means movable along said sheathing means and positioned to disrupt the same and said hub means as a catheter is advanced through said needle, and

a catheter in said sheathing means with one end in said needle and the other end anchored in said advancing means,

said needle having a longitudinal slot therein through which the catheter passes upon withdrawal of the needle to free the needle from the placed catheter.

7. In a catheter placement unit,

a separable catheter sheath comprising a channel-shaped base member, and

an inverted channel-shaped cover for said base member frictionally connected thereto,

a needle secured at one end to a part of said sheath and extending outside the same,

a catheter in the channel of said base member telescopically associated with said needle, and

catheter advancing means positioned to remove said cover from said base member as the catheter is advanced out of said base member,

said cover being articulated and flexible whereby it may be separated from said base member and attached to said base member segment by segment.

8. In a catheter placement unit,

a base member having a lengthwise channel,

a catheter in said channel,

an articulated flexible cover frictionally engaged with said base member,

a catheter advancer connected to one end of said catheter and slidable along said base member to advance the catheter out of one end of said base member, t

a needle telescopically associated with said catheter and connected to said one end of the base member and extending therebeyond, and

a portion of said advancer underlying the adjacent end of said cover to pry the same away from said base member as the catheter is advanced.

9. In a catheter placement unit,

a base member having a channel therein to receive a catheter and an external groove in each side thereof,

a catheter in said channel,

a catheter advancer connected to one end of said catheter and having inwardly curved resilient side walls for snap-on engagement in said external grooves,

said advancer being slidable along said base member to advance the catheter out of one end of said base member,

a needle telescopically associated with said catheter and connected to said one end of the base member and extending therebeyond, and

a flexible articulated cover for said base member having resilient depending side walls for snap-on engagement in said external grooves with one end overlying a part of said advancer,

whereby as the advancer is moved along said base member it prys said cover free of the base member.

10. In a catheter placement unit,

a base member having a channel therein to receive a catheter and an external groove in each side thereof,

a catheter in said channel,

a catheter advancer connected to one end of said catheter and having inwardly curved resilient side walls for snap-on engagement in said external grooves,

said advancer being slidable along said base member 7 8 to advance the catheter out of one end of said base References Cited by the Examiner mener; l u t d th d tht UNITED STATES PATENTS a nee e eescopxca y assoclae W1 sal ca eer and connected to said one end of the base member llllard and extending therebeyond, and K 5 g a exible cover frictionally engaged with said base FOREIGN PATENTS member, and 628,292 10/ 1961 Canada. said cover and Said advancer having complementally 1,033,825 4/ 1953 France.

shaped end portions with the `cover overlying the 904,237 8/ 1962 Great Britain. advancer, 10

whereby said advancer may plow said cover free of said RICHARD A- GAUDET Pmary Examine base member as the catheter is advanced. DALTON L. TRULUCK, Examiner. 

1. IN A CATHETER PLACEMENT UNIT, A BASE MEMBER HAVING A LONGITUDINAL GROOVE THEREIN, A CANNULATED NEEDLE WITH THE BLUNT END THEREOF FIRMLY SECURED IN SAID GROOVE AND THE REMAINDER PROJECTING BEYOND THE END OF SAID BASE MEMBER, SAID NEEDLE HAVING A LONGITUDINAL SLOT THEREIN IN THE UPPER PORTION THEREOF, A CATHETER ADVANCER INCLUDING A PASSAGED NIPPLE THERE ON SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BASE MEMBER, STOP MEANS AT THE END OF SAID BASE MEMBER OPPOSITE SAID NEEDLE TO PREVENT ACCIDENTAL SEPARATION OF THE BASE MEMBER AND SAID ADVANCER, A CATHETER IN SAID GROOVE WITH ONE END EXTENDING INTO THE PROJECTING PORTION OF SAID NEEDLE AND THE OTHER END FIRMLY ANCHORED IN THE ADVANCER NIPPLE, A COVER FRICTIONALLY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID BASE MEMBER TO COMPLETELY HOUSE SAID CATHETER AND WITH ONE END OVERLYING THE ADJACENT END OF SAID ADVANCER, AND A NEEDLE HUB MEMBER FRICTIONALLY CONNECTED TO SAID BASE MEMBER OVER THE FIXED END OF SAID NEEDLE AND OVERLYING THE ADJACENT END OF SAID COVER, WHEREBY AS THE ADVANCER IS MOVED ALONG SAID BASE MEMBER TO ADVANCE THE CATHETER THROUGH SAID NEEDLE THE COVER IS SEPARATED FROM THE BASE MEMBER, THE HUB MEMBER IS FREED BY THE COVER, AND AS THE NEEDLE IS WITHDRAWN THE CATHETER PASSES THROUGH THE NEEDLE SLOT, LEAVING ONLY THE ADVANCER ASSOCIATED WITH THE PLACED CATHETER. 